Complex REB "Hibiny": means, equipment. REB "Khibiny" - what is it?

Modern military equipment is inconceivable without the widest use of radio engineering equipment. Radars, locators, means of targeting the target ... All this in the conditions of modern war is extremely important. Not surprisingly, domestic engineers have always tried to develop an effective means to suppress the radio engineering of a potential enemy. This was the REB "Hibiny".

Basic information

The multifunctional complex, intended for installation on aviation equipment, was developed in the R & D "Khibiny" in Kaluga. The chief designer was the talented engineer Alexander Semenovich Yampolsky.

In the USSR, the first purposeful research in the field of active jamming began in 1977. Already in 1984, the work resulted in the creation of the first electronic warfare complexes "Khibiny", which were originally designed specifically for installation on Su-34 aircraft. In 1990, shortly before the collapse of the USSR, the first models had already passed acceptance tests within the framework of a specially created state commission. Despite the collapse of the state and all the attendant difficulties, by the mid-1990s, the development of containers for the complex was completed.

What is the purpose of the "Hibiny" REB? Its main role is to protect the aircraft from missile defense and air-to-air missiles, which can be used by enemy pilots. The essence of its action is the suppression of the homing systems of these weapons through the establishment of active interference.

Testing

Their tests were scheduled for the end of 1995. The state inspection was subjected to substantially modified samples, in which many defects of previous models were corrected. Despite this, certain shortcomings have been identified and this time. Therefore, the final test tour started only at the end of August 1997. In the spring of 2004, the Khibiny electronic warfare unit was finally accepted for service by the Russian Air Force, having become part of the Su-34 armament complex.

In August 2013, an important contract was signed, under which domestic enterprises will have to equip this equipment with almost all Su-34 and other models that can technologically take such weapons aboard. The estimated amount of work is more than 1.5 billion rubles. It is assumed that in the future the EIB complex "Khibiny" will be mounted on Su-30M fighters and similar machines.

History of prototypes

The first prototypes included a unit responsible for the exact memorization of the frequencies used (model TSh). Structurally, they also included upgraded blocks of digital signal delay microcircuits "Answer". In this block, the latest components of the "hundredth" series were used. Since 1984, these components of Khibin were developed in a separate research institute, as the amount of work was too large for one enterprise. In the course of the work, the signal delay line was upgraded to the "Answer-M" level.

Work with representatives of the Sukhoi Design Bureau

It should be noted that the first official sample, which fully corresponded to the technical task, simply did not fit in the compartments of the aircraft. To prevent such blunders in the future, the designers began working closely with the Sukhoi Design Bureau at the highest level. From now on all the work on the "Khibiny" was headed by V. V. Kryuchkov.

First flights

In 1990, the first "flying" model passes all stages of the State Acceptance, being officially recognized as suitable for installation on combat aircraft operated by the USSR Air Force. The second set was designed specifically for mounting in a hinged container L-175V and was designed exclusively for installation on many models of Su fighters and ground attack aircraft. As already mentioned above, the first flight of an aircraft with this equipment aboard took place in 1995.

So the first stage of the final part of the acceptance tests began. Already in 1997 in Ramenskoye Su-34 with the installed container L-175V also successfully flew off and performed all the test tasks that were put before the designers of the complex.

It soon became clear that the difficult economic situation in the country does not allow the rapid development of the production of new Su-34s in sufficient quantities, and with the L-175V containers themselves, to accommodate the EW complex is not so simple. At the same time, the development of a new version of Khibin began to protect a whole group of aircraft. It was supposed that this modification of the complex would be used to ensure the safety of groups of bombers and fighters going in the echelon of cover.

The design of many elements was extremely simplified, which allowed to significantly reduce the cost of the entire complex. This time, the EW included the containers V1 and V2. The peculiarity of such innovation was that their working frequency was in full agreement with that for Khibin. In fact, these were high-power transmitters, which could be used not only to increase the power of the main complex, but even to issue target designations.

Other containers

In the second pair there were containers of the model W1 and W0. Here they had a radio-frequency range, which was very different from the main Khibin complex. They use a completely different control from the parent logic, and therefore can be used to produce active jamming of a different, more efficient type. Probably, after uniting all the developments in this area, a complex of electronic warfare "Khibiny" ML-265 was created.

In this modification there is the possibility of using the complex in general without containers. So, in Su-35 this equipment is built right into the design of the airframe. In the process of creating a new model, the "Khibiny-60", applied mathematical modeling was widely used, which allowed to accurately predict the behavior of the complex in a variety of combat conditions, even extreme ones. By the way, the same approach was used a little earlier, in the process of creating a complex KC418.

Composition "Khibin"

So, what does the "Hibiny" REB system include? Here is its basic equipment:

• The "heart" of the complex is the RER "Proran", or its more modern analogues, most of the information on which is classified.
• The main system for installing active interference "Regatta". Most likely, more modern and perfect analogues are currently used. This equipment can be located both in the container and mounted directly into the airframe.
• As we said, the means of the "Hibiny" REB also include equipment intended for generating active jamming in the protection of aircraft links. It is mounted in a container. The exact characteristics are unknown.
• A block designed to accurately store the frequency. Model TSh.
• Finally, a computerized high-power computing system is used, and its exact characteristics also remain a mystery.

As for the cost of this type of weapons, as of 2014, the price of one set was at least 123 million rubles.

Technical characteristics of the complex

Let's consider the basic technical characteristics of a typical complex inside the container. As a rule, in this role the old, but perfectly proven L-175V / L-265 is used:

• Length - 4.95 m;
• Diameter - 35 cm;
• Weight - 300 kg.

Areas of active jamming

• In the front and back hemispheres, the overlapping sector is +/- 45 degrees.
• The radio technical intelligence equipment can function effectively at a frequency of 1.2 ... 40 GHz.
• The active jamming system itself operates at frequencies of 4 ... 18 GHz.
• The working frequency of the complex for covering the flight connections is 1 ... 4 GHz.
• The total power consumption is 3600 watts.

The main stages of the creation of the complex

• The first prototype is "Proran". At this stage, a complex of radio technical intelligence was developed.
• "Regatta". In this case, the engineers worked already directly on the creation of equipment, which could be used to produce active jamming.
• Finally, the very station of the REB "Khibiny" was created, which was obtained by connecting the "Proran" and "Regatta".
• Development and production of the "Khibiny-10V" model. This is a special modification, designed for installation on T-10V / Su-34 aircraft.
• Complex KS-418E. It was developed to equip the Su-24MK / Su-24MK2 export aircraft. Apparently, the final development of this model is not completed and as of today.

Modern modifications of the complex

• "Khibiny-M10 / M6".
• Modification of "Khibiny-60".
• "Container" complex L-265 / L-265M10. Exclusive option, which is currently used only on Su-35 aircraft.
• The most modified and perfect variant, "Khibiny-U". It was first shown at the MAKS-2013 Aviation Salon. It is known that at the same time an agreement was signed to mount the complex on all domestic aircraft of front-line aviation. Then it became known that this electronics will be placed on the Su-30SM.
• The most perfect model, "Tarantula". About its development and application, almost nothing is known.

Which aircraft are used as carriers?

As can be seen from the article, the main aircraft-carriers of this type of equipment are the products of the Sukhoi Design Bureau. We have already spoken about the reasons for this. So there is nothing surprising in the following list:

• On the Su-34 can be installed container L-175V / L-175VE, which can accommodate any suitable station for REB "Khibiny".
• The Su-35 most often carries the model "M", placed in L-265.
• Su-30SM is planned to be equipped exclusively with Khibiny-U.

Tests and applications in conditions close to combat

We already spoke about the first stages of state tests. When still used the system of REB "Hibiny"? It is reported that in 2000, some time after the attack of Chechen fighters on Afghanistan, the Air Force studied the possibility of using the Su-34 to cover the Su-24 bombers. Of course, the "Khibiny" installed on the Su-24 EW could significantly improve the survivability of these aircraft in combat conditions.

It is also known that in 2013 a contract was signed providing for the supply of at least 92 complexes to the troops. The amount of this contract is about 12 billion rubles. Most likely, airplanes (it is not known which ones) should be equipped with this equipment no later than 2020.

In April 2014, tests were conducted, close to combat. At the same time, the equipment of the "Khibiny" REB was aimed at protecting the Su-34. It was assumed that they would be intercepted by the planes of the probable enemy, in whose role the MiG-31 were. About the results of these tests so far nothing has been reported.

"Cook" and "Hibiny": a bygone or fiction?

In April of the same year on many resources appeared one interesting article. Many sober sources immediately put it in the section "Conjectures". What did it say about the "Hibiny" electronic warfare? "Donald Cook", which took place on April 12, 2014 near the Crimea, was allegedly "attacked" by the Su-24, and the equipment on its board was "choked" with the help of this complex. However, soon the articles with such content were quickly deleted, as it turned out the following:

• Yes, "Drying" really flew around the ship.
• The parties did not undertake any hostile actions.
• "Hibiny" is currently not put on the Su-24 (that's a controversial issue).
• The equipment of this class simply can not suppress the electronics of the smallest warship.

So, we examined the REB "Khibiny". What it is? In fact, this is an advanced electronic warfare system that allows combat aircraft to leave enemy missiles, knocking down their automatic guidance system.